Pais Wisil of Papua New Guinea has broken a 30-year-old national record in the 100m sprint by clocking 10.24 seconds at the Queensland State Titles, surpassing the previous time held by Peter Pulu. With encouragement from his coach and athletics officials, Wisil prepares for the World Indoor Championships, where he aims to prove his capabilities on a global stage.
Papua New Guinea has a new fastest man in the form of Pais Wisil, who set a remarkable national record in the 100m dash, clocking 10.24 seconds at the Queensland State Titles in Brisbane. This accomplishment breaks the longstanding record of 10.40 seconds held by Peter Pulu for 30 years. Wisil is the younger sibling of renowned sprinter Toea Wisil, the record holder in the women’s 100m, 200m, and 400m sprints.
In preparation for the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, coach Tony Fairweather strategically entered Wisil in the B division of the 100m, ensuring he faced top Australian sprinter Rohan Browning. Wisil bolted from the starting blocks, leading the race until Browning overtook him, finishing in 10.12 seconds. This experience provided crucial confidence for Wisil as he heads to Nanjing.
Athletics PNG President Tony Green highlighted the significance of Wisil’s achievement, stating that it not only establishes a new national record but also ranks among the top ten performances by an athlete from the Pacific Islands. According to the World Athletics scoring tables, Wisil’s time of 10.24 seconds corresponds to 1,125 points, surpassing any previous PNG men’s national records. Mowen Boino’s 400m hurdle record with 1,112 points has been overtaken by Wisil’s performance.
Fairweather credited Wisil’s record-breaking performance to his relentless dedication to training. He noted that Wisil had come close to breaking the record in Canberra recently, but wind conditions negated that time. Fairweather emphasized that Wisil’s commitment to training as an elite athlete sets an inspiring example for other PNG athletes. He expressed hope that Wisil could secure sponsors to aid his athletic development.
Following the race, Green promptly congratulated Wisil and wished him success in the upcoming World Indoors. Wisil will travel to Nanjing with other Pacific athletes, although he meets the qualifying standards for the 60m event, he will instead compete under the national quota that was secured for entry.
Pais Wisil’s groundbreaking performance in the 100m sprint establishes him as Papua New Guinea’s fastest man and breaks a 30-year-old record. His dedication and hard work have been acknowledged by both his coach and the athletics community. As Wisil prepares for the World Indoor Championships, his accomplishment serves to inspire other athletes in the region. With further support and training, he is poised to make a significant impact on the international athletic scene.
Original Source: www.thenational.com.pg
